As the national tally heads towards 1000, the Federal Health Minister urged people not to change domestic travel plans.

Victoria has 752 of Australia's cases, with Melbourne's northern suburbs hardest hit.

The high number of cases has forced the state to change its flu alert level, meaning widespread testing for the virus will be abandoned.

Instead, those who display the clinical symptoms of the H1N1 strain will be given antiviral medication by their doctors.

Victorian Premier John Brumby yesterday took aim at a decision by NSW Health to ban children who have travelled to Melbourne from attending their schools for a week after their return to NSW.

Other states, including South Australia, Queensland and Tasmania, have made similar quarantine decisions, which Mr Brumby described as bizarre. But he singled out NSW.

"Swine flu is an international and national phenomenon and that's the fact of the matter ... and frankly I thought the statements made by particularly the NSW Government were just silly and extreme," Mr Brumby said.

"I don't know what's driving this from a NSW point of view.

"I do know that we launched a very successful tourism campaign in NSW just a little while ago, I do know that there are lots of NSW citizens who have been attracted to Victoria, maybe it's a bit of retaliation for a successful tourism campaign."

NSW Premier Nathan Rees denied it was over the top to keep NSW kids who'd travelled to Melbourne for Wednesday's State of Origin clash out of school.

"What we do have is cases of community transmission in Victoria that we don't have in NSW," he said in Sydney.

NSW has 74 confirmed cases of swine flu, with 54 from last week's Pacific Dawn cruise.

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon stressed there were no travel restrictions in place within Australia or for people arriving or departing the country.

"We have a clear view, and this is based on the medical advice, that people should not change their travel decisions within Australia," Ms Roxon told Parliament.